5 Pointz 'graffiti mecca' wiped out overnight

New York graffiti artists has been seeking an injunction to stop the demolition of the abandoned "5 Pointz" building in Queens.

November 19, 2013 2:17 PM

Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images

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A federal judge has denied an effort by graffiti artists to stop the demolition of a Queens building known as the city's mecca for aerosol-produced art. The Landmarks Preservation Commission said in August the 5Pointz building didn't meet landmark status.

Last night was painted over by the new owner of the building, who plans to demolish the so-called "5 Pointz" and build a mixed-use development.

BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013

A federal judge has denied an effort by graffiti artists to stop the demolition of a Queens building known as the city's mecca for aerosol-produced art. The Landmarks Preservation Commission said in August the ... more

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

A federal judge has denied an effort by graffiti artists to stop... Photo-5484838.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in... Photo-5484842.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013.

BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the New York graffiti... Photo-5484840.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 Queens, New York.

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 Queens, New York.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in... Photo-5484837.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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BEFORE: The New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013.

BEFORE: The New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

BEFORE: The New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August... Photo-5484846.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in... Photo-5484848.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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BEFORE: The graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013.

BEFORE: The graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

BEFORE: The graffiti mecca 5 Pointz is seen on August 9, 2013.... Photo-5484849.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in... Photo-5484850.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013.

BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the New York graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the New York graffiti... Photo-5484843.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in Queens, New York.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in... Photo-5484844.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013.

BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti mecca 5 Pointz on August 9, 2013.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

BEFORE: A piece of street art is seen at the historic graffiti... Photo-5484865.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in the dead of night on November 19, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

AFTER: The same scene after being painted over by developers in... Photo-5484866.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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CHECK OUT MORE OF THE ART:

Two women take a picture outside of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

CHECK OUT MORE OF THE ART: Two women take a picture outside... Photo-5484909.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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People stand in front of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. less

People stand in front of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens ... more

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

People stand in front of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the... Photo-5484910.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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People explore the outside of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. less

People explore the outside of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the ... more

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

People explore the outside of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in... Photo-5484911.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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A graffiti painted car is parked in front of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. less

A graffiti painted car is parked in front of the 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City ... more

The 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, is seen on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. less

The 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene that has attracted artists from around the globe, is seen on October 28, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New ... more

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

The 5 Pointz Building, a landmark in the New York graffiti scene... Photo-5484908.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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The "5 Pointz" building is seen from a passing subway car on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. 5 Pointz is a series of properties that graffiti artists use as an outdoor art exhibit space - it is considered the Mecca of the graffiti world. The space has been used as a space for graffiti artists since the early 1990s, though in 2011, Jerry Wolkoff, the owner of the property, announced he planned to demolish the building to build high-rise residential buildings. less

The "5 Pointz" building is seen from a passing subway car on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. 5 Pointz is a series of properties that graffiti artists ... more

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

The "5 Pointz" building is seen from a passing subway car... Photo-5484897.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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A mural painted on the "5 Pointz" building is seen on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

A mural painted on the "5 Pointz" building is seen on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

A mural painted on the "5 Pointz" building is seen on... Photo-5484903.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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A man walks past a mural painted on the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

A man walks past a mural painted on the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

A woman has her picture taken next to a mural painted on the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

A woman has her picture taken next to a mural painted on the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Photo: Andrew Burton, Getty Images

A woman has her picture taken next to a mural painted on the... Photo-5484894.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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Steve Lew, who goes by the artist name "Kidlew," paints a new piece on a section of wall of the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Steve Lew, who goes by the artist name "Kidlew," paints a new piece on a section of wall of the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Steve Lew, who goes by the artist name "Kidlew," paints a new piece on a section of wall of the 5 Pointz building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Steve Lew, who goes by the artist name "Kidlew," paints a new piece on a section of wall of the 5 Pointz building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Steve Lew, who goes by the artist name "Kidlew," paints a new piece on a section of wall of the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

Steve Lew, who goes by the artist name "Kidlew," paints a new piece on a section of wall of the "5 Pointz" building on August 9, 2013 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

The side of 5 Pointz, a graffiti covered warehouse that used to house artist studios. The art of famous and novice graffiti artists covers the building's facade, all done with the encouragement of the building's owner, located in the the Long Island City section of Queens, New York. less

The side of 5 Pointz, a graffiti covered warehouse that used to house artist studios. The art of famous and novice graffiti artists covers the building's facade, all done with the encouragement of the ... more

Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY, AFP/Getty Images

The side of 5 Pointz, a graffiti covered warehouse that used to... Photo-5484883.74397 - Houston Chronicle

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A man passes by a wall at 5 Pointz, a graffiti covered warehouse that used to house artist studios.

A man passes by a wall at 5 Pointz, a graffiti covered warehouse that used to house artist studios.

The 7 train passes by 5 Pointz, a graffiti covered warehouse that used to house artist studios. The art of famous and novice graffiti artists covers the building's facade, all done with the encouragement of the building's owner. The building is located in the the Long Island City section of Queens. less

The 7 train passes by 5 Pointz, a graffiti covered warehouse that used to house artist studios. The art of famous and novice graffiti artists covers the building's facade, all done with the encouragement of ... more